Monday, October 22, 2018

Day 20: Dezzi Raceway & Lunch at Blue Lagoon Beach Bar

Dezzi Raceway action followed by Blue Lagoon Beach Bar
Nothing like a huge lunch before a four hour drive in traffic.
Breathtaking scenery. South Africa is stunning.
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Dezzi Raceway



Dezzi Raceway waiting to Run! 
Fang Log website for current updates 
Lunch Stop at Blue Lagoon Beach Bar




Lunch Stop at Blue Lagoon Beach Bar

Our Evening Bungalow View

Sunset from out Bungalow

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Sunday, October 21, 2018

Day 19: Oyster Box Hotel on the waterfront

Culture shock for our battle scarred rally to confront a modern young city after weeks in the bush.The Oyster Box Hotel exudes old world class. Valet look one look at us and demanded drop cloths under our cars.

Finely decked out charming staff, many tempting restaurants and cozy rooms facing the surf and lighthouse. Cool rooftop bar is the place to be followed by a mean curry buffet.

Yesterday was not our shining moment. Fang performed beautifully, his wipers did not. Mathematical and technical troubles gave us less than happy results on the regularities. On the plus side, basket shopping was excellent and we did not get lost. But once.

Sadly, Bob and Joan have joined the rental car fleet. The Capri runs no more.

Another race track today, two days at a river resort and Cape Town soon.

The Austin F1 race worth a look. 
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The Oyster Box Hotel


Oyster Box Hotel exudes world class


Video from our hotel room








Off to the Races! 

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Saturday, October 20, 2018

Day 18 PM log: Phinda Lodge Safari

Pam getting ready for safari and some great animal action videos below.   
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Cape Buffalo

Baby Hippo Playing with Adult

Hippos Playing

White dehorned Rhino

Bull Elephant

Pam washing windows for clear viewing

End of Day 17 Results - Fang currently top of Leaderboard with #1

Pam Checking In
Fang on the Open Road


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Day 18 Log: Phinda Lodge, near somewhere SA

Much more cover for animals here so we did not see the pop up game of other parks. The guides are big on stopping for sundowners, complete with bar and socializing.

After our game drive last night we pulled up to a fairyland in the woods. Hundreds of lanterns lead the way toward white tablecloth bush dinner under the stars. We enjoyed the hanging bar, pink gin, staff singing, tasty meal, wine and, for some, more pink gin. 

Laurie and I are cozy in our luxe villa with (chilly and surprisingly deep!) plunge pool. The staff stands ever ready to serve and the chow is dangerously good.

What a pleasure to sleep in whilst the hardy went for extra points at the 5AM game drive. It would have taken a polar bear sighting to inspire us. They did see cheetah amidst the rain and wind. 

So it is massages, shopping, free booze and laundry for us today. Tomorrow may bring the battle of the wiper blades.
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PS to Day 16 post: 
Laurie finally took revenge. Yesterday morning she offered me a “special smoothie” to increase my cognitive powers. Indeed it worked! I became smart enough never to accept any opened container from her again.

On the plus side, Fang’s gas tank was always topped off as we made a survey of South African petrol station facilities.
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Goodbye to Kirkmans

Goodbye to Kirkmans

Kruger Park self drive safari

Kruger Park self drive safari

Phinda Lodge

Phinda Lodge


Beginning of Sundown Safari

Your Nav and Sundown Safari
Safari Dinner

Progress via iPad tracking of photos


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Thursday, October 18, 2018

Day 16: Royal Villas Swaziland

Some are evidently more royal than others. These villas were built by the monarch for visiting royals. Lavish rooms below and staff rooms above. Last night were we were in the staff category. Never fear, Phinda awaits today with promise of two days of pampering and free laundry.

Laurie is now in first place, no thanks to me. We run on a distance meter with a day total and intervals. My strategy is to take a wrong turn immediately so the day total, which is our bible, is wrong from the start. Then I forget what time it is so I can tell Laurie that we have forty five minutes to go ninety eight kilometers or get a penalty.

Why she has not beaten me with one of her many health food bars is a testimony to a truly great woman!
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Day 15 pm: Kirkmans Camp final safari

3:30PM Joel collected our group and we were off on the promised rhino hunt. Evidently, unlike  zoo,  we actually have to find these animals, so we looked high and low for almost two hours. Actually we did not look high for, unlike the big cats, rhinos are not tree climbers.

Suddenly, here is a rare black rhino, smaller than the white version and with a strange diet. He was eating sticks! Loudly crunching up the ends of bare bushes. When spring buds come surely he will augment diet with those, like moose. 

Now our luck is changing, two big white rhinos with a baby. Their diet is grass so they happily share territory with stick eating cousins.

Joan outdid our tracker by spotting a female leopard. The leopard’s mother was the one performing mating dances earlier today. Now that daughter is ready to live alone mom wants another cub to raise. We followed the pretty youngster until she crossed the river, then topped off the evening visiting a female lion guarding her kill in tall river grasses.

Stories around the fire before dinner, my delicious martini, a sumptuous feast, farewells to guide Joel and a very soft pillow. Sweet dreams.
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Black rhino eating sticks. Hoping for twigs soon. 
It’s spring here.

White rhino, not white, but “wide” for the way he puts his lips after a juicy scent marking


Tracker and guide distinguishing between leopard and hyena tracks. Hyena do not retract their claws when walking. Good to know. 
Your driver hang'n in the coveralls with Alex and Neil

Fang holding the lead, with lowest score by '2', which means he's in lead overall.


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Wednesday, October 17, 2018

Day 15: Kirkmans Camp, Sabi Sands, SA

The 4:15 alarm not welcome,  however we dressed warmly and staggered out into rain for an amazing three and a half hours amongst the animals. First rain here in many months and the landscape will be transformed. As for Rally, we huddled snugly under gigantic ponchos in our convertible safari trucks.  Not enough praise can be heaped upon these worthy diesel vehicles, quiet and smooth running, yet as capable as elephants in mowing down the landscape.
We immediately struck leopard gold, tracking up close and personal a coy female being lured to new territory by an intruding and gorgeous young male.

Then hyenas, lots of hyenas, following the wild dog family we saw last night. Watching six young pups frolicking and jumping logs made us laugh. The five adult dogs sat alert between the large hyenas pack and the playing pups. As one they rose and chased off the enemy with a good bite in the ass to the closest one.

Now time for watching dueling giraffe 🦒. Their swinging necks look like slow motion ballet yet they strike with a resounding thud and can injure.

Damp, hungry and excited, Rally shared the sighting tales of their different safari trucks over a lavish breakfast. Laurie headed to Fang maintenance while I recaptured a couple hours lost sleep. This is working for me. 

Joel, our driver and Robert,the tracker will take us in search of white rhino during the upcoming evening safari drive. 
Wish you were here with us for this exhilarating experience.🦒🦓🐆🐘🦏🐃🐒👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
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Weather cooling down a bit. 
Your Nav thankful for good friend, Carole's, hand knit hat.

Coy female leopard lured to territory by young male

Hyenas, lots of Hyenas

Lots of Hyenas


Wild Dogs Playing

Wild Dogs Running Calling Young


Giraffe's squabbling


More giraffe squabbling

Giraffe Running - looking like in Slow Motion

White Rhinos

White Rhinos walking

Yesterday's Cone Course



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